Sleeping Beauty : Gala Durham
December 7, 2007
Sleeping Beauty: Gala Durham until January 6th 2008
The story of Sleeping Beauty starts with a celebration marking the birth of Princess Briar Rose, but her father King Humphrey forgets to invite the wicked fairy Carabosse. As she was not invited Carabosse places a curse on the Princess stating she will die. Just before her 18th birthday the curse becomes true as the Princess pricks her finger and appears to die. It is only the Crystal Fairy that manages to save “Sleeping Beauty” by changing the curse so she sleeps for 100 years instead of actually dying.
In this production we have four members of the cast that make the show actually work. First is co-director Mike Holloway (TVs Tomorrow People and the pop group Flintlock) who plays the dual role of Prince Gallant and Valiant. There is no doubting he has the looks and singing voice for the role and when on stage gives 110% at all times.
Also Pee Wee Price as Cuthbert, the Court Jester who never stops trying to involve the audience and introducing more mad cap humour to the proceedings. To try and imagine this production without Pee Wee is an impossibility, as he brought so much to the role and keeps the show going. Joanne Heywood as Crabosse, excels herself as the wicked fairy and makes the most of the material she has available to her. Finally Maureen Nolan does appear very comfortable and friendly as Crystal Fairy but sound problems that dogged her and Holloway in the second half, detracted from her performance through no fault of her own.
Unfortunately these performers, who work valiantly to keep the production going, are head and shoulders above the rest of the cast. Lisa-Marie Bowman as Sleeping Beauty appears to go through the motions rather than give a performance and in her first scene makes the Princess appear very snooty and unpleasant, rather than the gentle caring person she is meant to be. At the curtain call she looked totally bored and looked around the stage rather than smile and wave at the audience.
Not fairing so well either is Paul Hartley (who has returned by public demand) to play King Humphrey, as he has little material to work with, as does George Kelly who takes the role of Queen Hilda. There are none of the outrageous pantomime costumes for his dame to wear and both of their characters fail to connect with the audience.
Written and Directed by David Lee, the production is over long, running in excess of two and a half hours and fails to hold the interest of many children. There is very little comedy apart from Pee Wee who deserves full credit for trying to keep the proceedings moving along virtually single handedly. But despite the best efforts of Holloway, Pee Wee, Heywood and Nolan this is unfortunately not one of the Galas best pantomimes.
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